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Stop Endangered Sharks From Being Sold As Bargain Meat

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Sponsor: Free The Ocean

Shark meat sold across the United States often hides endangered species and toxic dangers, deceiving families while driving vital ocean predators toward extinction.

Stop Endangered Sharks From Being Sold As Bargain Meat

In grocery stores, seafood markets, and online across the United States, shark meat is being sold under vague labels that hide the truth. DNA testing shows that nearly a third of these products come from endangered or critically endangered species like great hammerheads, scalloped hammerheads, and shortfin makos12. Stripped of identifying features and marketed simply as “shark,” these products rob consumers of choice and drive threatened species closer to extinction.

Consumers Left In The Dark

The majority of shark meat sold in the U.S.—93% of samples studied—carried labels that failed to identify the species3. Even when labels included a name, some were wrong. This leaves families unknowingly buying meat from animals that have survived for millions of years, only to vanish under fraudulent labeling.

A Hidden Health Risk

The danger does not end with conservation. Shark meat often contains elevated levels of mercury, methylmercury, and even arsenic4. These toxins can cause neurological damage and developmental problems, especially for children and pregnant people. Without clear labeling, Americans cannot avoid products that threaten their health.

A Call For Compassion And Action

Sharks are apex predators, the guardians of balance in our oceans. Selling their meat cheaply, mislabeled and unchecked5, is both reckless and cruel. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must enforce species-specific labeling, demand full traceability, and hold sellers accountable. Compassion requires us to protect both human health and the survival of animals that keep marine ecosystems alive.

Sign Now To Protect Sharks And People

Every mislabeled package of shark meat is a step toward extinction for species already under immense pressure from overfishing and climate change. By signing this petition, you are urging the FDA to require transparency, strengthen oversight, and safeguard consumers and wildlife alike. Together we can ensure healthier oceans and a safer future for all.

  1. Monica Danielle, AccuWeather (12 September 2025), "Study finds shark meat sold in US often mislabeled, includes endangered species."
  2. Holly Large, IFLScience (10 September 2025), "Critically Endangered Shark Meat Is Being Sold In US Stores For As Little As $2.99."
  3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill via Phys.org (10 September 2025), "Study finds critically endangered sharks being sold as food in U.S. grocery stores."
  4. Food Safety Magazine (11 September 2025), "Shark Meat for Sale in U.S. Often Mislabeled; Can be Endangered, High-Mercury Species."
  5. CBS News (10 September 2025), "Endangered shark meat is being sold under misleading labels in the U.S., study finds."

The Petition

To the Commissioner of Food and Drugs,

We, the undersigned, call upon the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to strengthen laws, processes, and safeguards concerning the sale of shark meat in the United States. Recent research has revealed that shark products sold in American grocery stores, seafood markets, and online platforms are frequently mislabeled, with many containing meat from endangered and critically endangered species. This failure in transparency threatens both human health and marine biodiversity.

DNA testing of shark meat products has uncovered that nearly a third of samples came from species at risk of extinction, including great hammerheads, scalloped hammerheads, and shortfin makos. Many of these predators are vital to the stability of ocean ecosystems, yet they are being sold for as little as a few dollars per pound, stripped of identifying features, and marketed under vague terms such as “shark” or “mako shark.” This deception robs consumers of their right to make informed choices and contributes to the silent collapse of shark populations worldwide.

Compounding the ecological danger are significant health risks. Shark meat is known to contain high levels of mercury, methylmercury, and even arsenic, substances that pose a serious threat to children, pregnant individuals, and frequent seafood consumers. Without species-specific labeling, Americans are unknowingly exposed to harmful toxins while unwittingly supporting the exploitation of threatened wildlife.

We believe it is the FDA’s duty to protect the public not only from unsafe food but also from practices that perpetuate cruelty and ecological destruction. Compassion and humanity must guide our food systems. Endangered sharks have swum the oceans for millions of years, playing a vital role as apex predators. They deserve protection from being reduced to mislabeled products on a shelf.

We therefore urge the FDA to:

  • Require species-specific labeling of all shark products.
  • Enforce traceability measures that follow products from catch to consumer.
  • Increase monitoring and penalties for seafood mislabeling.
  • Work with international partners to ensure compliance with conservation agreements.

By taking these steps, the FDA can safeguard consumers, protect vulnerable wildlife, and uphold public trust. Stronger protections for sharks today will secure healthier oceans and a better future for generations to come.

Sincerely,

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